EffRx Pharmaceuticals SA exits to Italy’s Abiogen Pharma

Established in 2010 in Freienbach (Switzerland) with around 15 employees, EffRx Pharmaceuticals SA is a commercial-stage pharmaceutical company that develops and commercialises drugs targeted to musculoskeletal and rare diseases. Its lead product Binosto, is the first and only Buffered solution for the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis. The product contains buffered soluble alendronate, a key agent from the class of non-hormonal pharmaceuticals bisphosphonates used to treat osteoporosis. With the orphan drug designation (ODD) from FDA for a pipeline asset already secured, EffRx markets Binosto in the US and selected European and Asian countries under license agreements.

Pisa-based company Abiogen Pharma S.p.A is one of the companies distributing EffRx’s medication since 2014 under a licencing agreement. Abiogen has acquired a 97,09% stake in EffRx to strengthen its position in Italy. The company generates 188 million euros in revenue (2022) and employs 439 employees, making it one of the 15 largest Italian pharmaceutical companies.

“Since its foundation, EffRx has shown steady growth, with a business model resting on two pillars: developing and distributing consolidated own products, as well as licensing, launching and marketing drugs for treating rare diseases. Our partnership with Abiogen Pharma opens up very attractive scenarios to further enhance our pipeline, and we are confident that it will provide new and important development opportunities”, said Lorenzo Bosisio, CEO of EffRx Pharmaceuticals.

Aiming to remain an Italian family-run business but International
The acquisition of EffRx is intended to consolidate Abiogen’s internationalisation strategy that started back in 2015 and is a further step towards achieving an ambitious goal. Before EffRx, Abiogen acquired the German company Altamedics at the end of 2022.

Massimo Di Martino, Chairman and CEO of Abiogen Pharma, said, “The acquisition of a majority interest in EffRx is in line with our growth model, serves as a launching pad for our international expansion and confirms our mission and commitment to bone health and rare diseases”.

“We are working towards developing Abiogen into an international business without losing sight of our nature as an Italian and family-run undertaking, and we are pursuing this target by entering into agreements with foreign businesses that share our goals and therapeutic areas. Through the acquisition of a majority stake in EffRx, the synergies between our respective expertise and distribution networks will no doubt be the basis for strengthening our international expansion”, said Prisca Di Martino, International Business Unit Head at Abiogen Pharma.

(Press release/RAN)